Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

20 reviews

gondorgirl's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Rape, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abortion, Child death, Blood, Cursing, and Vomit

staleyouth's review

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I am no longer a member of this book's target demographic. I used to love the lyricism of the prose, but this time 'round I found it a little annoying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia

rhiannon814r's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Addiction

Moderate: Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Blood

sandysmith's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

A powerful, well written, empactful read about teenagers falling into taking crystal meth/crank so hence the books title. However, I've never really been a fan of poetry, and the book unfortunately didn't change my mind. I can see that it's cleverly written. How it is printed is interesting, but on a few pages, it was difficult to know how to read or follow the text. I read the book as part of a book club that reads banned books several times a year. The book does show a person and their downward spiral.  I'm not a fan or agree that banning books is a good thing as I think it has the opposite effect as the lure of wanting something you cant have makes me want to read it more than if it hadn't been banned. I think that for young people, it gives them an understanding of how debilitating drug taking can be, and it certainly doesn't glorify it. So important content, but poetry is still not for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, and Eating disorder

tpasta's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape

devin_raquel's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

tspice24's review

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

designsbymeghen's review against another edition

4.5

I love the poetic prose of this book. It feels like the perfect portrayal of what it’s like to be on drugs—broken thoughts, beautiful feelings, scattered thought processes, yet incredibly focused. So much happened in Kristina’s life in a very short amount of time. As a teenager growing up, I always rolled my eyes at adults telling me, “Don’t do drugs.” In my naivety, I was not thinking of anything close to this caliber. This book captures the complicated feelings of growing up and how developing brains can easily be talked into choices that have long-lasting effects. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

marie1124's review

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Addiction, Rape, Dementia, Drug use, and Cursing

inp9extra's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m not usually a fan of dark realistic fiction, but Crank is a beautifully written must-read for teens and parents alike. Written my a mother whose daughter was a meth addict the plot is gripping, chilling, and dangerous. The book is hard to put down as we observe a far too common and relatable collision course. 

The biggest complaint I’ve seen about this book is that the characters are unlikable, but that serves to drive the point home. The characters themselves start out normal but due to their circumstances it is easy to see why they make the decisions they make even as they lead themselves down a dark and twisted path. The fact that they come to be unlikable people reinforces a perspective of  watching someone you love destroy their life, which is the perspective the author writes from.  However, if you’re not a fan of unlikable characters, this book may not be for you. 

Please give this book a try especially if you’re in your teens and being faced with real and difficult choices. Even if you don’t like it, the uncomfortable lessons it imparts are invaluable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, and Eating disorder